Before Pam Evans was ever diagnosed with breast cancer, she had more experience than she ever wanted with cancer.

Her son, 24-year-old Jordan Evans, overcame childhood leukemia, an ordeal for the entire family. Still, her own diagnosis came as a shock to Evans.

“As far as being diagnosed yourself with cancer, that was definitely devastating,” she said.

Evans’ diagnosis came nearly nine years ago — Nov. 15, 2003, is the exact date, a day Evans still pauses to reflect on every year. Evans said doctors found two tiny, pin-sized places on her breast during a routine mammogram when she was just 42.

Despite the size of the tumor and the early detection, Evans decided to undergo aggressive treatment, including a mastectomy and four monthly rounds of chemotherapy treatment. As if that wasn’t enough, she had to undergo a hysterectomy about six weeks later.

“I felt like I kind of knew what to expect in some ways on how to take care of a cancer patient from having the experience of taking care of Jordan when he was sick as a child,” she said.

Evans, of Ayden, was lucky throughout her treatment, which removed the tumor completely. She didn’t have a lot of sickness like many cancer patients. Aside from one hospital stay as a result of pneumonia, she was able to undergo treatments on Fridays and return to work at Grifton Pediatric by the following Monday. Probably the worst part, she said, was losing her hair as a result of the chemo.

“Jordan and (husband) Tony took me in the yard and shaved my head,” she said. “Jordan said, ‘I never thought I’d be shaving my mama’s hair.’ I guess I didn’t have to worry about having a bad hair day.”

From the shock of discovering cancer, to the side effects of the chemotherapy all the way to her five-year anniversary of being cancer free — an important milestone for many cancer survivors — Evans had the support of her husband and two sons, her Elm Grove Free Will Baptist Church family and her bosom buddies at her breast cancer support group at Lenoir Memorial Hospital.

“That’s what we call ourselves,” she said of the Bosom Buddies, whose group averages about 15 during monthly meetings and whose total membership is probably close to 30 cancer survivors.

“We meet every second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.,” Evans said, “and we have a good time.”

Evans said a support group is important for survivors to feel a sense of camaraderie, to know they’re not alone and to have someone with whom they can celebrate successes and have a shoulder on which to cry during trying times.

Evans said some group members have told her their families won’t talk about cancer, preferring instead to avoid the subject altogether. It’s important to have someone to talk to, however, Evans said.

Page 2 of 2 - “We tell people that do have breast cancer not to be embarrassed by it, that there are support groups in your area and to please come out because it is a lot of fun,” Evans said. “It definitely helps you to talk about it and get through to know that you’re not alone. We are all there to help you if you need it.”

The group, which gathers downstairs in the Neuse Room by the Wellness Center in the hospital, often meets for several hours, and hors d’oeuvres usually end up becoming a full meal.

“We all love being together,” she said. “You would think that we could put our pajamas and our pillows there so we could just stay, we all enjoy each other’s company so much.”